AMD Ryzen 7 3700X vs Intel Core 7 253PTE Comparison

The Verdict

The data paints a clear but nuanced picture. The Intel Core 7 253PTE is the outright performance leader in the majority of measured workloads, winning 8 of 13 head-to-head comparisons. Its largest advantages come in heavily parallel integer and floating-point math, where it leads by 80.1% and 72.3%, respectively. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is no slouch, however, and it wins 5 of the 13 tests, specifically in data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, and random string sorting.

For users whose primary workload is multi-threaded compute, content creation, or physics simulation, the Intel Core 7 253PTE is the stronger pick. Its 10 cores and 20 threads, paired with a 5.40 GHz boost clock, deliver a decisive edge in Cinebench multi-core tests. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, remains a capable alternative, but it trails by 2.5% in Cinebench R15 multi-core and by 11.5% in PassMark multi-thread. The Intel part also crushes single-thread performance, leading by 48% in Cinebench R15 single-core and by 42.8% in PassMark single-thread.

However, the Ryzen 7 3700X demonstrates superiority in several specialized workloads. It handles data compression 6.9% faster, data encryption 18% faster, and extended instruction sets 11.1% faster. It also wins in random string sorting by 12.2%. If your workflow involves these specific operations, the AMD chip is the more efficient choice. Both processors sit at the 84th percentile in the global CPU database, indicating they are closely matched in overall standing, but the Intel part has a higher average benchmark score of 34962 versus 34260 for AMD.

Architecture Differences

The core architectural split is significant. The Intel Core 7 253PTE is built on a 10 nm process at Intel, using the Bartlett Lake codename. It features 10 cores and 20 threads, a 1.80 GHz base clock, and a 5.40 GHz boost clock. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support spans DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel access, delivering 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. It also supports ECC memory. The chip uses Intel Socket 1700 and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are present in the form of UHD Graphics 730. Its TDP is rated at 45 watts, and the multiplier is locked. The launch MSRP is $384.

In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Matisse, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, a 3.60 GHz base clock, and a 4.40 GHz boost clock. The chip includes 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. Its cache setup is 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3. Memory support is limited to DDR4 with dual-channel access, yielding 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. ECC memory is not supported. The socket is AMD Socket AM4, and it provides PCIe Gen 4 with 24 CPU lanes. There is no integrated graphics. The TDP is 65 watts, and the multiplier is unlocked. The launch MSRP is $329.

Key differences: the Intel part has more cores and threads, a higher boost clock, larger L2 and L3 caches, faster memory bandwidth, and PCIe Gen 5. The AMD part has a smaller process node, more PCIe lanes, an unlocked multiplier, and a lower launch MSRP. The Intel chip also includes integrated graphics, which the AMD chip lacks. These architectural choices explain many of the benchmark deltas.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 7 253PTE dominates in raw compute throughput. In PassMark integer math, it scores 119552 against 66399, a 80.1% advantage. Floating-point math shows a 72.3% lead, with scores of 67209 versus 39005. These are the two largest deltas in the entire comparison. The Intel part also wins PassMark multi-thread (25031 vs 22458, 11.5% ahead) and PassMark physics (1318 vs 1181, 11.6% ahead). Single-thread performance is a landslide: 3794 vs 2656, a 42.8% margin. Cinebench results follow the same pattern, with R15 multi-core at 2144 vs 2092 (2.5% lead) and R15 single-core at 302 vs 204 (48% lead).

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X counters in data-centric tasks. Data compression goes to AMD at 296379 vs 275828, a 6.9% edge. Data encryption is even stronger for AMD, 18900 vs 15500, an 18% lead. Extended instructions favor AMD by 11.1% (19241 vs 17099). Prime number finding sees AMD at 99 vs 82, a 17.2% advantage. Random string sorting is also AMD's, 32131 vs 28227, a 12.2% margin. These wins indicate the Zen 2 architecture retains strengths in specific algorithmic patterns, despite the newer Intel silicon.

Looking at the rival context, the Intel Core 7 253PTE's average score of 34962 puts it within 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-13800H and the Intel Core i9-12900HX. It is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Xeon 6349P and the AMD Ryzen 5 150. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, with an average score of 34260, is 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 and the AMD EPYC 4244P, 0.2% behind the Intel Core i5-13450HX, and 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H. These deltas are small, suggesting both chips sit in a tightly contested performance band.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PTE has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X support DDR5 memory?

A: No, the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X supports only DDR4 memory. The Intel Core 7 253PTE supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Which chip wins in PassMark single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PTE wins decisively, scoring 3794 compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X's 2656, a 42.8% advantage.

Q: In which benchmark does the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X have its largest win?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X shows its largest margin in data encryption, scoring 18900 against 15500, an 18% lead.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 7 253PTE and the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X are at the 84th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Q: Does the Intel Core 7 253PTE have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes UHD Graphics 730. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X has no integrated graphics.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 253PTE is the clear choice for general-purpose compute and rendering workloads. Its wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core, PassMark multi-thread, physics, integer math, and floating-point math make it suitable for tasks like video encoding, 3D rendering, scientific simulation, and any application that scales with thread count and clock speed. The 80.1% lead in integer math and 72.3% lead in floating-point math are particularly notable for number-crunching applications. The single-thread advantage of 42.8% also benefits legacy or lightly threaded software where a single core's speed is the bottleneck.

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X wins in data-centric and security-related workloads. Its 18% lead in data encryption makes it the better option for encryption-heavy tasks such as secure file transfers, VPN processing, or database encryption. The 6.9% win in data compression and the 12.2% win in random string sorting point to strengths in file archiving, data deduplication, and text processing. The 11.1% advantage in extended instructions and the 17.2% lead in prime number finding suggest the Zen 2 architecture handles certain specialized instruction sets and mathematical algorithms more efficiently.

For users who need a balanced desktop processor with integrated graphics, lower power consumption (45 watts TDP), and the latest PCIe Gen 5 support, the Intel Core 7 253PTE is the more modern choice. For users who prioritize encryption and compression throughput, prefer an unlocked multiplier for overclocking on the AM4 platform, or require more PCIe lanes (24 versus 16), the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X remains a viable and specialized alternative. The data shows a split: Intel for raw compute and single-thread speed, AMD for specific data manipulation tasks. Both achieve the same 84th percentile, but their strengths are distinctly different.